Receptacle



Dec. 16, 3952 D, EKLUND 2,621,833

RECEPTACLE Filed May 2. 1947 Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an economical, closable (and if desirable, disposable) salt, pepper, or like containerthat may be used on the table or if desired, carried ina lunch pail.

I More specifically, the object of this invention is to provide a closable salt, pepper, or like container that may be manufactured of paper or like inexpensive material.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a granular material dispenser that is capable of being closed and one that consists of only three parts.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a salt, pepper, or like holder that is easily filled.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a granular or like material holder that is economical in manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the variou parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the three parts that make up my granular container.

Fig. 3 is a reduced side-sectional view of my device taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and more fully illustrates its construction when assembled.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device and illustrates the manner of opening or closing the dispensing means.

The chief objections to most salt, pepper, or like holders are that they do not lend themselves to carrying in a lunch or like box, are difficult to fill, do not have non-spillable features, and are expensive. I have overcome such objections by providing a container that can be made of inexpensive material such as paper cardboard, is easily fillable, light of weight, and capable of having its dispensing means closed. These features of light weight, closable dispensing means, and economy of manufacture render my device particularly desirable for use in lunch pails, baskets, and like. However, there are many desirable features found in my container which make it highly desirable for table and kitchen use and I do not limit myself to paper cardboard or like inexpensive material.

The container may be also made of plastic, china, clay, wood, or metal and may be made in sizes from miniatures for use in lunch pails to large designs for kitchen use. Salt and other materials collect undesirable moisture. This is prevented by closing the dispensing means when the holder is not needed. Another advantage of the construction of my container is that it can be easily and quickly disassembled for washing or cleaning. This feature is particularly desirable when the same is used in the home or restaurant. It may be filled or emptied quickly, regardless of the material used to manufacture it.

Referring to the drawings, I have used the numeral ID to designate the cup bottom portion of my device. The numeral I l designates a cylinder normally extending into the bottom portion Ill, as shown in Fig. 3. The bottom of this cylinder is open and its top closed with a plate portion l2, as shown in Fig. 2. The numeral l3 designates a plurality of material passageways extending through the portion l2 and positioned near its peripheral edge, as shown in Fig. 2. The numeral l4 designates the cap member of the device which is in the design of an inverted cup member having a height substantially less than the height of the member ID and capable of frictionally engaging the upper portion of the cylinder portion II, as shown in Fig. 3. The dimensions of the parts III, II, and 14 are such that when the device is assembled the lower marginal edge of the top [4 will engage the upper marginal edge of the bottom portion It] with the cylinder ll extending from the inside bottom of the member ID to the inside top of the member I4. The diameter of the cylinder portion II is such that it frictionally engages the inside walls of both the members I0 and M. The numeral l5 designates a plurality of passageways extending through the top of the cap l4 and capable of registering with the passageways I3 when the cap is rotated to the proper position relative to the member H. These passageway l3 and I5 provide the dispensing holes of the device. When these holes register with each other material within the container may be shaken out of the container in the usual manner. By rotating the cap H to a position where the passageways I5 do not register with the passageways [3 the container will be sealed, as shown in Fig. 4. To fill the device it is merely necessary to remove the bottom cup portion I0 from thecylinder, pour or scoop the cylinder full of the material to be held and with the cylinder upside down, replace the bottom portion l0. To empty the device it is merely necessary to remove the member ID. If the device is made of washable material such as plastic, metal, or like, all three pieces may be disassembled, as shown in Fig. 2, for washing and cleaning. As the bottom cup portion ID has a larger surface area when in engagement with the cylinder II than does the cap [4, the cylinder II will tend to remain stationary with the bottom portion. IO whenthe cap. 14 isrotated to open or close the device; The entire container consists of only three simple separable parts and may be made of any suitable exterior design or size.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved granular material container without departing fromthe" real spirit and purpose of my invention; and:'it is my intention to cover by my claim any modified forms of structure or use. of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope;

I'claim-z In adispensing container, a bottom cup portion; an elongated cylindrical member detachably extending into and to the inside bottom of v said first-mentioned member frictionally engagingthe same and having its top-closed, passageways-extending through the top of said: cylindrical member said cylindrical member having a- 4 length greater than the length of said bottom cup portion, an inverted cup cap member detachably embracing the upper end portion of said cylindrical member, and passageways through the top of said inverted cup cap member capable of registering with said first-mentioned passageways at times; said cylindrical member being of such dimensions relative to said first-mentioned cupv member andsaid inverted cup. cap member that when said two members are on;said cylindrical member the lower marginal edge of said inverted cup cap member will engage the upper marginal edge of said first-mentioned cup member.

DARYLL D. EKLUND.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS;

Number Name Date 587,517 Bar Aug; 3, 1897 844,640 West Feb. 19, 1907 1,653,471 Rutkowski Dec. 20, 1927' 1,774,904- Scully Sept. 2, 1 930 2,206,209 Thorn July 2, 1940 2,217,307 Carter et' al. Oct. 8, 1940- 2,36l,047 Morey Oct; 24; 1944 

